While a student at Peabody in the late '70s, I met Flore Wend, a member of
the voice faculty for many years, Ansermet's L'Enfant and one of his Yniols.
One day, she demonstrated how she coulod trill on intervals as high as a
sixth (or more, I don't remember). She would slowly sing the interval,
establishing in our ears the two notes; then double the speed and then full
trill. I swear I could always hear the distinct pitches of the interval.
Donald
On 2/14/10 10:36 PM, "Beckmesserschmitt" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I will probably cross post.
>
> I can't find the reference I remember, which I think was in Pleasants'
> The Great Singers. In any event I don't have it marked. I have been
> looking for it for days.
>
>
> The reference was to singers who could trill not two notes a half step
> or full step apart, but a minor or even major third.
>
>
> I can't remember if this was said of a castrato or later, but I am
> sure of the comment.
>
>
> I am not sure what this would sound like, and don't think I have ever
> heard it (I am leaving Gwyneth Jones aside).
>
>
> I don't think the reference was just to alternating sixteenth notes,
> but to a real trill.
>
>
> Has anyone heard anything of this nature? I find it hard to imagine it
> being done, unless the trill was far more 'glottal' than what we
> commonly think of as a trill.
>
> Dreimesserschmitt
>
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